450 UTV clutch kit/tires

[kylelowry]

Where can a guy get a clutch kit to run bigger tires on a 450 UTV. I'm looking at purchasing one and I have a set of 28" tires from my old arctic cat quad on ITP wheels that I would like to put on it. Do 28s clear on these machines? Is there a clutch kit to run the bigger tires? Any info would be great. I like the idea of the smaller machine, but still want the benefits of the bigger tires.

[airshot]

I haven't found a clutch kit either, but I am not looking at going that big on tires. When the original tires wear out I will move to 26" .....28 might be pushi it pretty hard.  I did find a replacement spring for the clutch that is supposed to improve engagement but not for 28 tires. Please let us know if you find anything

[Brad]

is it just me or does the after market world seem to be slow with coming out with anything for the kymco machines ?

[Heck]

Its not you...........

[Brad]

I don't know about clutch kits but you could try wheel spacer's it will push the tires out further but the down fall is you will be catching all the mud on you !

[airshot]

is it just me or does the after market world seem to be slow with coming out with anything for the kymco machines ?

It is coming ....yes slowly.... when companies start producing aftermarket parts they need to know there is a market for them and that takes time.   Also be aware that for many years the other manufacturers of offroad machines would not allow Kymco machines to be sold in any of the dealerships that their machines were sold in.  They all got together to try and push Kymco out....wonder why?   That is beginning to change and others mfgrs are allowing them in, especially since there own machines have Kymco running gear in them. Artic cat is one example, they used the 450i and rebadged it with A/C logoes and decals and added 1500 to the price of a 450i.  Talked to a dealer in Mi that carrys both, sell lots more Kymco models, however many people are willing to pay the extra money just to have the A/C name on there machine....go figure!  Now that Kymco is becoming popular lots of goodis are coming out each year, but do realize that performance items will really be slow as the factory is not interested in performance enhancing products and they will cancel your warranty. These machines are not designed for performance beyond there original design. Do some reading on other manufacturers forums at all the performance mods being done, then look at all the issues people have after making the mods.  Not something I would be interested in, I prefer trouble free over going faster...but that's me....slow and steady!!

[Brad]

well A/C isn't the only ones that use kymco as their parts vendor honda and a couple of others do as well so yeah I can see why they would balk at letting kymco get their foot in the door i'm not looking to do anything radical to my machine just to lift it by a couple of inches and find some half doors for it if I did anything more than that I would limit myself were I could ride it do to the fact the trails can be fairly narrow at places and some public trails have a size restriction especially here in pa.

[Bratman2]

A company called Airdam can machine the clutch for you. He has a lifted AC 450 and is familiar with these CVTs. I had him do my MXU450i. Made a huge difference. The only thing bad on that is your machine will be down until the CVT sheaves come back. Also he is nearly impossible to get up with by phone or email. I found a used set on Ebay and sent in so I had no down time. Took just under a month for them to arrive back at my house, if my memory is correct. There is 5 different stages of clutch mods listed on his website. I had him machine stage 1 on mine. I did stage 2 myself and lightened my rollers a gram each. You can also buy shims which are just different thickness washers that put the CVT into a lower range on start off. I used 2mils on mine and noticed a significant difference. With the shims you will trade off top speed. With the Airdam machined CVT you do not use shims and it is way better. I don't know if that is enough to run 28" tires but I do feel pretty confident you will like it better than any off the shelf CVT kit.

[souzamoto]

"Also be aware that for many years the other manufacturers of offroad machines would not allow Kymco machines to be sold in any of the dealerships that their machines were sold in.  They all got together to try and push Kymco out....wonder why?   That is beginning to change and others mfgrs are allowing them in..."

This is not entirely true. Deales are independent businesses, powersports dealers are not "Franchises", they are "Dealers" having signed a "dealer Agreement" with the OEM not a "Franchise Agreement"
That said, OEM's like Honda can write into the agreement that no other brands can be carried in a "Honda Powerhouse" dealership. If you are not a powerhouse dealer, you are free to carrier other products. If a Powerhouse dealer were to bring in another brand, the dealer would lose the Powerhouse moniker and the benefits included in the deal.
CJS

[airshot]

A local dealer was a Polaris dealer for many years, decided to expand with Kymco.  When Polaris found this out, they refused to ship him any more Polaris atv/UTV until he dropped the Kymco line. Snowmobiles etc were ok but no atv/utv, only scooters. As he said, I couldn't sell enough Kymco machines to keep the business open so he had to drop them.  He did give them raving reviews though!